Getting that urge to consolidate and sell...how do I stop it?

coinlieutenant · September 11, 2012 12:20AM

What do you do when you get that urge? I am very happy with the collection as it stands, but oftentimes don't see how I can continue to pursue the areas I want.

Thinking of consolidating down to just three areas.

1. Half Dollars in VF/XF (Busts by date and variety), RE by date, Seated by type and Barber by Mintmark (4 coins)
2. Swiss shooting Thalers
3. World Travels Set (A nice coin from each country I have visited)

The problem is that many very nice coins that I have fall outside that grouping and I really don't need to sell. I wonder if the urge to sell is driven by too many balls in the air, or maybe an OCD desire for having a "clean and simple" focus area.

I think that the collection grew in strange directions because it is so difficult to find coins within certain interest areas, so I would just buy what is nice and justify it by saying it was a very nice coin.

What do you do when you get this feeling?

mingot · September 11, 2012 12:21AM

I'm getting this feeling, too.

I am just going to go with it and sell some stuff.

AngryTurtle · September 11, 2012 12:24AM

I think consolidating is a practical necessity, you cant collect everything. I think Julian quoted one of his mentors as saying "there are more coins out there than you have money".

LanceNewmanOCC · September 11, 2012 12:26AM

.
an effective and simple technique many use is to find something a dealer has that they want and see what the items they want to sell will bring in trade for that item(s)

you solve two goals simultaneously and feel potentially very satisfied afterward
.

coinlieutenant · September 11, 2012 3:15AM

The trading seems like a good idea...

BAJJERFAN · September 11, 2012 3:27AM

<< I think Julian quoted one of his mentors as saying "there are more coins out there than you have money". >>

Which is quite alright as I wouldn't consider 90% of them even if I had a bottomless bank account. It does however reduce the competition for the ones I'd like.

lordmarcovan · September 11, 2012 3:28AM

<< I'm getting this feeling, too.

I am just going to go with it and sell some stuff. >>

I'm in the midst of that, too. Sort of shifting towards a "Box of 20" mentality, though of course I'll have more than one box of 20, haha.

It's cyclical, I guess. I too am in sort of a consolidation period, and holding off on further major purchases for my core collections until the last year or so worth of purchases have been slabbed, etc.

RYK · September 11, 2012 3:30AM

I am in a constant state of expanding and contracting my collection. Currently, I am contracting. When in doubt, sell it. Of the scores and scores of coins from my collection that I have sold, I can think of three that I wish I still had in my collection.

BryceM · September 11, 2012 3:33AM

Why do you want to stop the urge?

Selling is at least as important as buying.

Freeing up a little free cash has a way of creating buying opportunities that you would have missed or not even considered otherwise. I can easily derive more satisfaction from one outstanding coin than from 10 that are just "nice".

magikbilly · September 11, 2012 3:36AM

I am selling off extraneous stuff in my collections to focus on what is important, not impressive. Listen to and trust your instincts is my suggestion. Best wishes!!!

Eric

lordmarcovan · September 11, 2012 3:40AM

<< The problem is that many very nice coins that I have fall outside that grouping and I really don't need to sell. I wonder if the urge to sell is driven by too many balls in the air, or maybe an OCD desire for having a "clean and simple" focus area. >>

Yes, I think it's a little bit of both. Juggling too many projects, and also a little OCD. I can be fairly confident in this diagnosis because I too suffer from it.

This is where a "Box of 20" can come into play, I suppose. Sort of a catchall category, where the only necessary criteria are the ones you set. What you like. What looks pretty. Whatever.

Nothing says you have to sacrifice your other sets if you pursue the Box of 20. That box can just be the "Miscellaneous" category.

SeattleSlammer · September 11, 2012 3:50AM

The only way to stop the urge is to stop surfing coin forums, sites etc. Otherwise you'll always see something else that you want. Of course this is impossible advice to follow. But did you really want to stop?

LindeDad · September 11, 2012 3:53AM

What do you do when you get that urge?

Check my sig. line....Work in progress....

Edit to add that that classic double Eagle I've always wanted is on the way from prior sales. But got out bid on the $2.50 on Sunday.

messydesk · September 11, 2012 3:58AM

It's better to sell when you want to than when you have to. If I get the urge to sell some stuff I have, I just do it.

MidLifeCrisis · September 11, 2012 4:24AM

<< Why do you want to stop the urge?

Selling is at least as important as buying.

Freeing up a little free cash has a way of creating buying opportunities that you would have missed or not even considered otherwise. I can easily derive more satisfaction from one outstanding coin than from 10 that are just "nice". >>

Ditto! Make the urge work to your advantage.

greghansen · September 11, 2012 5:07AM

It's better to sell when you want to than when you have to. If I get the urge to sell some stuff I have, I just do it.

Sell 'em when you can...not when you have to.

scotty1419 · September 11, 2012 5:36AM

It's a very natural and healthy urge I think. I feel it also is a sign of maturity as a collector.

When we all started, I'm sure we were buying whatever piece -anything and everything. We increase our knowledge, our focus tightens and we reflect on the excess we have with an eye for efficiency.

jayPem · September 11, 2012 6:28AM

Yikes !
Looks like perhaps too many of us are in the sell mode all at once ! I too am selling everything that I don't love to look at...breaking up my CBH collection, there are alot of dates in that set that don't really do anything for me.
Keeping the overdates, early dates, late die states, mint states, AU 58's, etc....about 3 boxes, but the rest are moving along.

Justlooking · September 11, 2012 6:30AM

I predict a quick, sharp rise in prices. Good time to sell ...

BaseballAbs · September 11, 2012 6:44AM

<< I am in a constant state of expanding and contracting my collection. Currently, I am contracting. When in doubt, sell it. Of the scores and scores of coins from my collection that I have sold, I can think of three that I wish I still had in my collection. >>

I tend to wish I had most my coins back.

coinsarefun · September 11, 2012 6:49AM

I have been selling and cleaning house for almost a year now. But I'm also buying. I am trying to focus on what I want to be
in my final collection. I still have a long way to go and still have much....much more to sell.

So far the coins I have purchased(only a few) I am very happy with and looking foreword to getting into the US type set coins soon

I don't think its a bad thing to buy and sell, matter of fact I don't think one really understands a great collection with eye appeal
until you do sell some of your coins......this is the time is when when you find out if you were right in your choice.
If it sells for way under what you paid, maybe it wasn't such a good decision. But that's just my opinion.

BAJJERFAN · September 11, 2012 1:23PM

<< 

<< I am in a constant state of expanding and contracting my collection. Currently, I am contracting. When in doubt, sell it. Of the scores and scores of coins from my collection that I have sold, I can think of three that I wish I still had in my collection. >>

I tend to wish I had most my coins back. >>

I sometimes tend to feel that way too.

DDR · September 11, 2012 2:06PM

Consolidate. You learn a lot about buying by selling.

RB1026 · September 11, 2012 2:54PM

I have to side with the "sell some" crowd here too. I learned a long time ago that if I am even remotely willing to part with something, then it is time to do so. I have turned over a large part of my collection in the past 3-5 years for lots of reasons and don't regret it one bit. In doing so, I have sold things off that 10 years ago I believed I would own forever but I have discovered new interests and it has caused me to grow as a collector and increased my enjoyment of the hobby.

Whatever you decide, I wish you the best with it. After it's all said and done, collecting is supposed to be fun so don't agonize too much over things and go with your instincts.

GrumpyEd · September 11, 2012 3:12PM

Selling some is probably a good idea.
Sell off several that give you little pleasure and buy something that you'll like more.
It should improve your collection on both ends, eliminate from the least wanted end and add something to the top end.

Getting that urge to consolidate and sell...how do I stop it?

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